Cigarette-case.



S. L. JOHNSTON.

CIGARETTE CASE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. 1917.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

s-.- L. JOHNSTON.

- CIGARETTk CASE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1-3. 1917.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 5 wvewtoz, 7L.

' forzw$ $1 he/o lvmm I1. JGHNS'I'ON, OF NEW YORK, N; Y.

CIGARETTE-CASE.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that SAniE L. JoHNs'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigarette Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in containers, and more particularly to containers for articles which are to be carried in the pocket. While the container may be used in connection with various articles, it is designed-more particularly as a carrier for cigarettes, thus forming what may be termed "a cigarette case, although it is tobe understood that this title is not intended to limit the invention to such par-, ticular use.

Varlousforms of cases for filllS'PllI'POSG have heretofore been provided, being designed more particularly to meet conditions which are inherent in the article. For instance, the cigarette must be free from damage inorder to provide satisfactory smoking, and hence a carrier therefor, must eliminate, as far as practicable, the possibility of damaging the cigarette while the case is being carried in the pocket. To meet this condition the containers have gen erally been arranged to carry the cigarettes in a longitudinalrow or a plurality of rows with means for retaining the cigarettes in position against damagingaction. This result has generally been obtained structurally,

. where the cigarettes have paper wrappers,

by providing'a receptacle for the cigarettes, and mounting the receptacle within a casinggenerally of leaf form-the receptacle generally being connected to the casing,

so that when the latter is open the recepta cle will be so exposed as to permit of ready removal of individual cigarettes. Such structures are necessarily somewhat expensive to manufacture owing to the form of the mechanical construction employed. In addition, they are necessarily of considerable depth, thus tending more or lessto bulkiness of the container.

The present invention is designed more particularly to produce an efficient carrier 'of decreased cost in manufacturawhich is comparatively thin or of shallow depth,

thereby materially decreasing the bulkiness of the container, and at the same time provlde a structure which will maintain the;

Patented Aug. 14:, 1917 a ncanli filed M rch 13, 1917. Serial No. 154,432.

integrity of the cigarettes regardless of the character of'handling of the case.

The invention also meets an additional condition primarily brought about by the formation of the cigarette itself. The tobacco contained in the cigarette is of cornparativel short length. Consequently, a considera le amount of tobacco at the ends of the cigarette can be sifted out by shifting or moving the cigarette about in ,a case or subjecting such cigarette end to material pressure. It has been found that where some of the cigarettes of a row have been removed and the remainder permitted to shift position, cigarette movements of sufficient magnitude may be provided while the case is being carried in the pocket, with the result that the tobacco will sift from. the

ends-of the cigarettes. Asone of the essentials in maintaining the integrity ofa cigarette is that 'no material external pressure should be placed on the ci arette such as is provided by a'clamp or understood that prevention of cigarette which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in the lmproved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views finger adaptedto' clamp the cigarettes in the case it will be shifting by f-rictionally holding the cigavrette is inadvisable This shifting can be Figure l is a perspective view showing a case embodying the principlesof the present invention, the case being shown as closed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the case as open, the interior of the case being affects the cigarette.

arranged in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the opened case of Fig. 2, showing the manner in which the cigarettes are individually removed from the case.

Fig. 4 is a detail cross-sectior1al view taken on line 44 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a different embodiment of the invention, the case being shown as open, the cigarettes being omitted.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the structure of Fig. 6.

As shown in the drawings, decrease in cost of manufacture and decrease in thickness of the case is provided to a more or less extent by eliminating the internal receptacle and the mechanical structures by which such receptacle is mounted within the case. This is obtained by giving at least one of the case walls a configuration which will not only act as a receptacle element, but which will also retain the individual positioning of the cigarettes so that each cigarette will remain in position until actually removed from the case. This arrangement necessarily changes the manner of manipulating the cigarettes to remove them from the case since the cigarettes necessarily have their ends depressed with respect to the section edge or edges and, therefore, only partially exposed above the plane of such edge, whereas the independent receptacle type provides an entire exposure of such end. WVhile removal of cigarettes from a depressed position can be obtained by lateral movement, such movement is not desirable, since any attempt to raise a cigarette at its ends is diificult, due to the restricted space between the cigarette end and the casing, so that liability of damage to the cigarette end is present; to grasp the cigarette at an intermediate portion tends to provide pressure thereon and thus In addition exposure of the entire row of cigarettes to permit of such lateral movement tends to disarrange the row since it is ditiicult to manipulate one cigarette without affecting others.

For these reasons it is generally desirable to remove the cigarette by an endwise movement. This is, of course, readily possible where the ends of the cigarettes are completely exposed in the case as in the. independent receptacle type. However, where the cigarette ends are but partially exposed. the problem is complicated through the requirement that the cigarette must be moved to a position to completely expose the end before removing the cigarette, and at the same time prevent the application of pressure on an intermediate portion of the cigarette. In addition it is essential to retain the positions of the cigarettes which are not being removed in order that liability of damage to the cigarette be decreased as far as possible. These conditions are met in the case structures now to be described.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, 1 0 and 11 indicate two leaf sections hingedly connected along their longer or side edges. Each section is shown as dished to provide case edges, adapted to be brought into contact when the case is closed,

and a space within the case.

In the drawings, each section is shown as corrugated or provided with parallel depressions 12. However, this particular corrugated configuration of section 10 may be omitted, if desired, without avoiding the principles of the present invention, the corrugated form of the section causing the case to have a more symmetrical appearance externally.

As shown, the depressions preferably have a length greater than the length of the cigarettes which are to be positioned therein and at least the outer end of each depression is decreased in depth toward the adjacent section edge. In the forms shown this is had by curving the body of the section in the direction of lengthof the depression so as to cause the end of the cigarette to freely ride up to and .over the section edge when the cigarette is advanced in such direction by a pushing action at the opposite end of the cigarette as shown in Fig 3.

Each end of the depression may be, and preferably is, formed with such decreased depth. As this decreased depth configuration. preferably extends a distance sufiicient to carry it below the end of the cigarette, the similar formation of the opposite ends of the depression will tend to produce a slight bridging action on the cigarette. This arrangement, does not affect the cigarette as long as no material pressure is placed on the body of the cigarette, and it may be more or less advantageous in permitting the use of a cigarette-retaining device which may be brought into closer contact with the bodv of the cigarette, since the change in angularity of the cigarette during its advancing movement and while riding over such curved portion is more or less compensated by reason of the fact that the opposite end is moved into a portion of the depression of increased depth, so that such change in angularity does not affect or damage the Gig..- rette. However, this complete bridging effect may be omitted and the decrease in depth formation be located entirely at the outer end of the depression, the retaining device then being of a looser fit to permit advancing movement of the cigarette without damaging the latter.

In these figures of the drawing, the. retaining device is in the form of a band 13 extend.

of suitable width and secured to the ends of Section 11 insuitable manner, as, for instance, by soldering, the band extending transversely of the direction of length of the depressions and being preferably corrugated in Opposition to the corrugated formation'of the section. The band is adapted to overlie the cigarettes, coiiperating with the depressions to form complete pocket-like configurations through which the cigarettes As shown, the band is positioned intermediate of and spaced from the ends of the depressions-dutermediate the ends of the 'cigarettesand is preferably so located as to permit a suflicient length of cigarette advancing movement to carry the advance end of the cigarette beyond the section edge while the opposite end of the cigarette is being pushed forward, the arrangement being such that each of the cigarettes is exposed to permit this action to be obtained. The band is also preferably located closer to the inner end of the cigarette in order that the change in inclination of the cigarette during its advance movement will not place a material pressure on the body of the cigarette. When the case is closed, band -1 is practically the band to be received therein without applying pressure on the cigarettes when the case is closed.

The number of depressions in section 11 will, of course, depend upon the maximum number of cigarettes which are to be positioned in the case, the construction being preferably intended to provide a single row of cigarettes. thus producing a case which is thin and flat and which can be readily carried in the pocket.

' This arrangement practically forms an individual pocket for each cigarette and withinwhich it will remain without mate-, .rial shifting even though other cigarettes are removed. Hence,-liability of tobacco sifting is reduced to a minimum. In-addi- .pressure on the walls of the case, a structure of material advantage in that the thickness of the casing metal may be reduced and thus decrease the cost of manufacture. This is especially true by reason of the fact that the intermediate portions of the cigarettes are normally out of contact with the walls ofnested within the depressions of section 10 and the arrangement is 'such that substantially no pressure is placed on the the case, and, therefore, more. or less free from liability'to damage through pressure applied when the case is closed. As will be understood, the permanentlypositioned band structure of Figs. 2 and 3 practically requires that the cigarettes be inr troduced individually, each cigarette being introduced into its depression and then moved to position or permitted to move'to such position.

In Figs. 6 and 7,1 have shown a modified arrangement where the cigarettes may be in- *troduced collectively and di'stributedover the depressions. This result is obtained by 10, while permitting relative movement between section 11 and the pintle when'pressure is placed on arms 14 to shift the latter from normal position the application of such pressure permitting movement of-the band to the position shown in Fig. 7, thus exposing the depressions of'section 11 throughout.

their length. When so positioned, the cigatively, spread thereover so as to locate the cigarettes in the several depressions, and the band then pushed back to its normal position, the arrangement being'such that arms 14 will prevent inward movement of the band beyond such normal position and thus avoid pacing pressure on the cigarettes.

Obviously, this arrangement of a support for the band is but one of'a number of forms in which this supportmay be provided, any .of which may be employed for the purpose.

rettes can be placed on the section collec- One of the essential features of such mount,-

ing, however, obstruct the inner ends of either of the de-' pressions to an extent suflicient to prevent ree access of the thumb or finger to give the cigarette the desired advance movement.

While such movable band structure is made possible, it is preferred that no movement of the band take place excepting during the filling operation, it being'preferred to provide for the individual removal such as is contemplated by the fixedly positioned band.

'In each form,'however, the band is sup ported at its ends to substantially maintain 1ts cigarette-retaining position; the means for supporting the band may be the solder formation or a movable support, as indicated.

As is usual in cases of this type, I prefer to provide for automatic opening of the case when the clasp is released, various forms of such structures being well-known and appllcable for ;use.- For instance, the usual torsional spring structure may be employed is that the support should not vpearance, is preferably;

in connection with the case of Figs. 2 and 3, but, where the specific form of mounting shown in Fig. 6 is employed, I prefer to employ the usual coil spring arrangement, since the pintle is being more or less frictionally held. Obviously, this latter struciure may be employed with the form of The clasp, indicated at 15, is of a general type, preferably spring supported, and for the purpose of producing a symmetrical apshaped to fit the outer configuration of t e section over which it closes. 1

While I have shown the hinge line as extending along the longer side of the sections and transverse to the direction of length of the depressions, it will be readily understood that the sections can be hinged along their ends, thus placing the hinge line parallel to the direction of length of the depressions.

The case may be formed of any desired material, as metal, paper or card board, etc.

\Vhile I have herein shown various ways in which the principles of my invention may be carried out, it wll be understood that changes and modifications therein may be required or desired to meet the various exigencies of use, and I desire to be understood as reserving the right to make any and all such changes or modifications in so far as the same may fall within the sprit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims:

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, is 2- 1. A cigarette case comprising a pair of hingedly connected leaf sections oppositely dished to inclose the cigarettes when the sections are closed, at least one of said sections being corrugated to form depressions of a length greater than the length of the cigarettes and within which the cigarettes are seated individually, and a band extending transversely of the direction of length of the depressions intermediate of and spaced from the depression ends, said band being corrugated oppositely to said depressions and coiiperatin therewith to complete pocket-like con gurations through which.

the cigarettes extend, said band normally maintaining the cigarettes seated in such depressions while permitting endwise movement of a cigarette in the direction of length of its depression at will, the position of the band permitting such movement for a distance 'suilieient to project the opposite end of the cigarette beyond the section edge.

2. In a cigarette case, a dished leaf section having parallel depressions of a length greater than that of the cigarettes and with the advance end of each depression decreasing in depth toward the adjacent edge of the section to form a wall adapted to lead the advance end of the cigarette to the plane .to the direction of length of such depressions to retain cigarettes in position, said means being positioned to expose opposite ends of the cigarettes for dlstances suflicient to permit free manipulation at the rear end of the cigarette to advance the cigarette and project its opposite end beyond such edge.

3. In a cigarette case, a dished leaf section having parallel depressions of a length greater than that of the cigarettes and with the advance end of each depression decreasing in depth toward the adjacent edge of the section to form a wall adapted to lead the advance end of the cigarette to the plane of such edge during endwise movement of the cigarette to remove it from the case, and a band overlying intermediate portions of the cigarettes and having depressions complemental to such section depressions to form pocket-like configurations through which the cigarettes extend, said band being positioned to expose the rear end of each cigarette for a distance sufiicient to permit free manipulation at such end to advance the .cigarette to project the opposite end beyond such edge.

4. In a cigarette case, adished leaf section having parallel depressions of a length greater than that of the cigarettes and with the advance end of each depression decreasing in' depth toward the adjacent edge of the section to form a wall adapted to lead the advance end of the ci arette to the plane of such edge during endivise movement of the cigarette to remove it from the case, and a band overlying intermediate portions of the cigarettes and having depressions complemental to such section depressions to form pocket-like configurations through which the cigarettes extend, said band being positioned to expose the rear end of each cigarette for a distance sufiicient to permit free manipulation at such end to advance the cigarette to project the opposite end beyond such edge, said band being supported solely at its ends.

5. A cigarette case comprising a pair of hingedly connected leaf sections oppositely dished to inclose the cigarettes when the sections are closed, at least one of said sections being corrugated to form depressions of a length greater than the length of the cigarettes and within which the cigarettes are seated individually, said depressions each having an end portion decreasing in depth toward a' section edge, and a band extending transversely of the depressions and normally overlying the contained cigarettes intermediate the cigarette ends to retain the cigarettes in such depressions while permitting endwise movement thereof, the position of the band exposing a length of cigarette ,sufiicient to permit free manipula tion at the rear end of the cigarette to carry the. opposite end of such cigarette beyond the section edge, the configuration 0t the depression end leading the advance end of depressions intermediate of and spaced from 'the depression ends, said band being corrugated oppositely to said depressions and cooperating therewith to complete pocket-like configurations through .Wl'llCh the cigarettes extend, said band normally maintaining the cigarettes seated in such depressions While permitting endwise'movement of a cigarette in the direction of length of its depression at will, the position of the band permitting tions are closed, at least one of said sections such movement for a distance sufiicient to project the opposite endof the cigarette-beyond the section edge, said band being movably'supported, movements of said band permitting complete exposure of the 'depressions. v

7. A cigarette case comprising a pair of hingedly connected leaf sections oppositely dished'to inclose'the cigarettes when the secbeing corrugated to form depressions ot: a length greater than the length of the cigarettes and within which the cigarettes are seated individually, each depression having its end portions'curved toward the section edge to gradually decrease the depth of the depressions at such end portions, such curved portions being of a length to place the c1garette ends thereon When the cigarette IS in position, and a band extending transversely to the direction of length of the depressions and adapted to overlie the depression ends, said band normally maintaining the cigarettes in the depressions while permitting endwise movement thereof, the position of the band and of the curved portions of the ,depressions permitting such endwise movement by manipulation at the rear end ofa cigarette to freely deliver the advance end of the cigarette beyond a section edge and retain the cigarette body against damage under the shifting delivery movements.

8. AI cigarette case comprising a pair of hingedly connected leaf sections oppositely dished to inclose the cigarettes when the sec tions are closed, at least one of said sections being corrugated to form depressions of a r L than, the length of the cighin ivhieh the cigarettes are seated individually, and a band movably supported at its ends and extending transversely of the direction of length of the depression -intermediate'of and spaced from the depression ends, said band being corrugated oppositely to said depressions and cooperating therewith to complete pocket-likev configurations through which the cigarettes extend, said band normally maintaining the cigarettes seated in such depressions while permitting endwise movement of a cigarette I in the "direction of length of its depression at will, the position of the band permitting such movement for a distance suiiicient to project the opposite end of the cigarette be yond the section edge.

9. A cigarette case comprising a pair of hingedly connected leaf sections oppositely dished to inclose the cigarettes when the sections are closed, said sections bein opposite'ly corrugated to combinedly pro uce opposing depressions for housing the cigarettes when the latter are individually positioned, and a band extendin transversel to the direction oi length 0 the depressions and supported at its ends at opposite edges of one of said sections and adapted to retain the cigarettes in position within the d'epressions of such section, said band being positioned intermediate of and spaced from the depression ends and corrugated in correspondence with and adapted to nest within the opposite leaf section, said band overlying the contained cigarettes when the case is open. Y

10. A cigarette case comprising a pair of hingedly-connected leaf sections oppositely dished to inclose the cigarettes when the sections are closed, and a band extending transversely of the direction of length of the cigarettes and located intermediate of and spaced from. the ends of the cig arettcs, said a band being corrugated to form parallel concavities facing a leaf section wall and adapted to coiiperate with said Wall in forming pockets to receive the cigarettes, said i band normally -maint'aining the cigarettes individually seated While per; mitting'cndwise movement of a cigarette in the direction of cigarette length at will, the position of the band permitting such movement for a distance sufiicient to project the opposite end of the cigarette beyond the sec tion edge.

11. A cigarette case comprising a pair of hingedly-connected leaf sections oppositely dished to inclose the cigarettes when the sections are closed, and a band extending transversely of the direction of length of the cigarettes and located intermediate of and normally maintaining the cigarettes indi. vidually seated while permitting endwise movement of a cigarette in the direction of cigarette length at will; the position of the band permitting such movement for a distance sufiicient to project the opposite end of the cigarette beyond the section edge, said band being swingingly supported to move toward and from cigarette-holding position.

12. A cigarette case comprising a pair of hingedly-connected leaf sections oppositely dished to inclose the cigarettes when the sections are closed, and a band extending transversely of the direction of length of the cigarettes and located intermediate of and spaced from the ends of the cigarettes, said 'bandbeing corrugated to form arallel concavities facing a leaf section we 1 and adapted to coiiperate with said wall in forming pockets to receive the cigarettes, said band normally maintaining the cigarettes individually seated while permitting endwise movement of a cigarette in the direction of cigarette length at will, the position of the bandpermitting such movement for a distance sufiicient to project the opposite end ofthe cigarette beyond the section edge, said band being supported to swing on an axis substantially corresponding to the axis of the hinge connectidn to permit movement of the band toward andfrom its cigaretteholding position.

1 3. A cigarette case comprising a pair of hingedly-connected leaf sections oppositely dished to inclose the cigarettes when the sections are closed, and a band extending transversely of the direction of length of the cigarettes and located intermediate of and spaced from the ends of the cigarettes, said band being corrugated to form parallel con cavities facing a leaf section wall and adapted to cobperate with said wall in forming pockets to receive the cigarettes, said band normally maintaining the cigarettes individually seated while permitting such movement for a distance suflicient to project the opposite end of the cigarette beyond the section edge, said hinge connection including a pintle, and said band being supported by said pintle to permit swinging movements toward and from cigarette-holding position.

14:. A cigarette case comprising a pair of hingedly-connected leaf sections oppositely dished to inclose the cigarettes when the sections are closed, and a band extending transversely of the direction of length of the cigarettes and located intermediate of and spaced from the ends of the'cigarettes, said band being corrugated to form parallel concavities facing a leaf section wall and adapt ed to cooperate with said wall in forming pockets to receive the cigarettes, said band normally maintaining the cigarettes individually seated while permitting endwise movement of a cigarette in the direction of cigarette length at Will, the position of the band permitting such movement for a distance sufiicient to project the opposite end of the cigarette beyond the section edge, said hinge connection including a pintle having its ends extending laterally of the direction of pintle length, said band being carried by said laterally-extending portions of the pintle, whereby the band may be swung toward and from cigarette-holding position.

15. A cigarette case comprising a pair of hingedly-connected leaf sections oppositely dished to inclose the cigarettes when the sections are closed, and a band extending transversely of the direction of length of the cigarettes and located intermediate of and spaced from the ends of the cigarettes, said band having parallel conca'vities arranged successively in the direction of length of the band, the direction of length of the concavities extending transverse to the direction of v length of the band, said concavities facing a .leaf section wall and cooperating therewith in forming pockets in which the cigarettes are individually seated, said band being movable to expose the entire length of the cigarettes.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

SADIE L. JOHNSTON. 

